Enclosure



1964 B. SACKS 3,146,044

ENCLOSURE Filed March 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1 4/ 4 4% I008 tFig.2

70 T; 50 INVENTOR. 20 BERNARD SACKS mm 58 BY ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1964 B.SACKS ENCLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1962 INVENTOR.

BERNARD SACKS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,146,044 ENCLOSURE BernardSacks, Broomall, Pa. Bernard Sacks & Associates, 1714 Walnut St.,Philadelphia 3, Pa.) Filed Mar. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 178,464 8 Claims. (Cl.312-213) This invention relates to an enclosure, and more particularly,to a knock down enclosure adapted to house two diverse systems.

The enclosure of the present invention is of the knock down type so thatit may be disassembled and shipped in a flat condition therebyminimizing the shipping space. The enclosure of the present invention isadapted to support an air conditioner and a heating unit therewithin.The enclosure is adapted to be mounted in a panel of a curtain wall.

The enclosure of the present invention lacks a rear wall and is adaptedto receive a louver or the like. The enclosure lacks a bottom wall butincludes an internal bottom panel on which an air conditioner is adaptedto be supported. Means are provided to cause moisture from the airconditioner to be conveyed to an outside surface on the curtain wallpanel. Such means may include the disposition of the bottom panel sothat the front edge thereof is higher than the rear edge thereof, with aflange on the bottom panel overlapping a portion of the curtain wallpanel.

The enclosure is provided with a pivotably mounted front wall which maybe detached when desired. Preferably, the front wall is locked in itsclosed disposition to prevent tampering with the setting on the airconditioner or heating system. Since a portion of the support for theair conditioner extends through an aperture in the curtain wall panel,the enclosure of the present invention will be a built-in structureforming a part of the wall of a building or the like.

It its an object of the present invention to provide a novel enclosure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel knockeddown enclosure capable of being built in a wall or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelenclosure for an air conditioner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelenclosure for an air conditioner and a heating system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelenclosure adapted to encase an air conditioner and support the same in amanner so that moisture from the air conditioner is conveyed to theouter surface of a wall.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel knockdown enclosure having a pivotable front wall and lacking a bottom andrear wall.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelenclosure adapted to have a decorative outer appearance so that it mayform an integral part of a wall structure of a building or the like.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

FIGURE 1 is a partial elevation view of the outside face of a buildingconstructed with a curtain wall.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2--2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the various components of the enclosureof the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a portionof a building designated generally as 10.

The building is provided with a curtain wall which includes uprightsupport mullions 12 and horizontally dis- 3,148,844; Patented Aug. 25,I964 "ice posed reinforcement structural members 14, 14' and 14extending between the mullions 12. A central rectangular opening of theframe structure is provided with a pane of glass 16. A curtain wallpanel 18 may be provided in a rectangle thereabove and a curtain wallpanel 28 is provided in a rectangle therebelow. The panels 18 and 28 arereferred to as curtain wall panels since they have a relatively smallthickness and do not support the weight of the roof of the building. Forexample, a curtain wall panel has a thickness in the neighborhood of oneto two inches.

The weight of the roof and the floors of the building above the firstfloor are self supporting.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, there is disclosed a housingdesignated generally as 22. The housing 22 is disposed on the innersurface of the curtain wall and is a built-in housing. The housing 22has a portion extending through an aperture 24 in the panel 20 as willbe made clear hereinafter. The housing 22 includes a horizontallydisposed top wall 26 and side walls 28 and 38 depending therefrom. Thetop wall 26 may be made of plywood or the like with a layer ofdecorative material on its uppermost surface. For example, the layer ofdecorative material may be a layer of Formica, leatherette, vinyl, etc.

The top wall 26 has a length corresponding with the distance betweenadjacent mullions 12. The rear edge of the top wall 26 is provided witha notch 32 in each corner, only one notch is shown in FIGURE 3, so as toreceive a mullion 12 in the notch. The side wall 28 is provided with aninturned flange 34 along its top edge. The flange 34 is adapted to bebolted to the bottom surface of the top wall 26. Likewise, the top edgeof the side wall 30 is provided with an inturned flange 36 adapted to bebolted to the bottom surface of the top wall 26.

The front edge of the side walls 28 and 30 are disposed at an angle withrespect to the vertical. The angled edge on the side wall 28 is providedwith an inturned flange 38. The angled edge on the side wall 30 isprovided with an inturned flange 40. A look device 42 is secured to theflange 38 adjacent the upper edge thereof. The side wall 28 is providedwith a bracket 44 on its inner surface. The side wall 30 is providedwith a bracket 45 on its inner surface.

A front wall 48 is provided and is adapted to overlie the flanges 38 and40. The front Wall 48 is provided on its inner surface with a pair offingers 50, only one shown. The fingers 50 are adapted to extend intothe elongated holes in the brackets 44 and 48 thereby enabling the frontwall 48 to pivot toward and away from the flanges 38 and 40.

The front wall 48 is provided with spaced louvers 49 and 51. A chain 52has one end secured to the inner surface of the front wall 48. The otherend of the chain 52 is adapted to be connected to the bottom surface ofthe top wall 26. The chain 52 limits the extent to which the front wall48 may pivot toward its open disposition thereby exposing the interiorof the housing 22. The chain is adapted to be disconnectible withrespect to the front wall 48 thereby enabling the front wall 48 to beentirely removed when desired. Since the front wall 48 is pivotably havea height greater than the height of the flanges 54 and 56.

Internal supporting structure is provided within the housing 22 tosupport an air conditioner 61. Such supporting structure includes abottom panel 60 having a front flange 62 and a rear flange 64. As shownmore clearly in FIGURES 1 and 2, the bottom panel 60 extends through theaperture 24 in the panel 20 so that the flange overlaps the outermostsurface of the panel 20. The bottom panel 60 is provided with uprightside flanges 66 and 68.

The front edge of the bottom panel 60 is maintained in spaced relationfrom the floor of the building by means of a support plate 70. Thesupport plate 70 has selectively adjustable leveling legs 72. Means areprovided so that any moisture from the air conditioner 61 isautomatically transmitted through the panel 20 to the outermost surfacethereof. Such means includes the disposition of the flange 64 and theangled disposition of the panel 60. Thus, the legs 72 are preferablyadjusted so that the front edge of the panel 60 is approximately onequarter of an inch higher than the rear edge thereof. It will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that other means may be providedto accomplish this desirable result. For example, the plate 60 may beprovided with grooves having a depth which increase as they extend fromthe front edge to the rear edge of the panel 60.

A pair of side panels 74 and 76 are disposed between the flanges 66 and68. Side panel 74 is adapted to be removably secured to the flange 66.Side panel 76 is adapted to be removably secured to the flange 68. Theupper edge of the side panels 74 and 76 have a length from front to rearwhich is less than the bottom edge thereof. A flange 78 is provided onthe uppermost edge of panel 74. A flange 82 is provided on the uppermostedge of the panel 76. The flanges 78 and 82 are adapted to be removablysecured to the top wall 26.

A panel 74 is provided with an outturned rear flange 80 which is adaptedto be releasably secured to the panel 20. Panel 76 is provided with asimilar outturned flange 84 which is adapted to be secure to the panel20. A top panel 86 is provided for cooperation with the panels 60, 74and 76 so that the supporting structure for the air conditioner 61 willbe a four sided structure. The top panel 86 is provided with a rearflange 88 which extends upwardly and overlaps the outer surface of thepanel 20.

The top panel 86 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 90 alongits front edge which is adapted to be releasably secured to the top wall26 of the housing 22. As will be evident by a comparison of FIGURES 2and 3, the distance between the front and rear edges of the top panel 86is substantially less than the corresponding distance on the panels 74and 76. This relationship will be more evident from the structurewhereby the top panel 86 is releasably secured to the side panels 74 and76. Hence, the top panel 86 is provided with depending side flanges 92and 96. The flange 92 is adapted to be releasably secured to the sidepanel 74 by means of fasteners extending through holes 94 in panel 74.Comparable holes are provided on the panel 76 for securing the flange 96thereto.

A bracket 98 is provided adjacent the bottom of the rear edge of thepanels 74 and 76. A bracket 98 is provided adjacent each end of the rearedge of the top panel 86. A louver 100 is releasably secured in theaperture defined by the flanges 64, 80, 84 and 88. The louver 100 isprovided with fasteners adapted to be releasably connected to thebrackets 98.

An L-shaped bracket 102 is mounted on the panel 60 adjacent the flange68. As seen more clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4, the bracket 102 has a longleg substantially perpendicular to the flange 68 and a short legsubstantially parallel to the flange 68. An L-shaped panel 104 isprovided. The panel 104 is substantially identical with the 4configuration of the bracket 102. The lower edge of the panel 104 isreleasably secured to the bracket 102.

The panel 104 is provided with a side flange 106 adapted to bereleasably secured to the side panel 76. The panel 104 has a side wall108 adapted to be juxtaposed to a side wall of the air conditioner 61with a strip of sealing material such as a gasket or the like disposedtherebetween so as to provide an airtight seal between the airconditioner 61 and the wall 108. A flange 109 is provided on the upperedge of the panel 104. The flange 109 is adapted to be releasablysecured to the flange on the top panel 86.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 4, the louver extends between the sidepanels 74 and 76. The panel 104 obstructs a portion of the space betweenthe side panels 74 and 7 6. When the air conditioner 61 is mounted onthe bottom panel 60 between the side panel 74 and the wall 108 on thepanel 104, air may enter the housing 20 through the louver 100, passinto the air conditioner 61, and out through the louver 100 asillustrated by the arrows in FIGURE 4. The provision of the panel 104,depends upon the type of air conditioner being utilized. With certaintypes or makes of air conditioners, the panel 104 will not be necessary.An angle iron bracket 110 is releasably secured to the side panel 76. Anangle iron bracket 112 is releasably secured to the side wall 28. Thebrackets 110 and 112 are adapted to support a heater 114. Warm air fromthe heater 114 may enter the room by way of louver 51. Cool air from theair conditioner 61 will enter the room by way of the louver 49. Air mayreturn from the room to the air conditioner 61 or heater 114 as shown bythe arrow in FIGURE 2. A junction box, not shown, is adapted to besupported in any con venient location so as to provide an electricalcoupling junction facilitating the coupling of electricity for the airconditioner and/or heater 114. It is possible to utilize a variety ofheaters 114. That is the heater 114 may be electrical, steam or a hotwater type. Suitable knockout holes may be provided in the kick plate 58or side wall 28 to facilitate plumbing connections if the heater 114 isof a hot water or steam type.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the present invention isdirected to a knock down enclosure which is adapted to house an airconditioner and/ or heater. Means are provided so that condensation froman air conditioner will automatically be transmitted through a curtainwall panel to the exterior thereof. The enclosure of the presentinvention is adapted to have top, side and front walls which aredecoratively coated so as to provide an attractive enclosure of thebuilt-in type. Seals are provided so that unwanted outside air cannotenter into the building. If desired, the enclosure may be installedwithout the air conditioning unit and louver 100 will be replaced with asolid panel.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising an enclosure having a top wall,side walls connected to said top wall along side edges thereof, apivotably supported front Wall extending between said side walls, saidenclosure lacking a bottom wall so that the interior thereof may be incommunication with the surrounding atmosphere, means within saidenclosure for supporting an air conditioner therein, said meansincluding a substantially horizontal panel, said panel having a frontedge and a rear edge, the front edge of said panel being closer to saidfront wall than said rear edge, and means for selectively adjusting theelevation of said front edge of said panel.

2. An article of manufacture comprising an enclosure having a top wall,side walls connected to said top wall along side edges thereof, apivotably supported front wall extending between said side Walls, saidenclosure lacking a bottom wall so that the interior thereof may be incommunication With the surrounding atmosphere, means within saidenclosure for supporting an air conditioner therein, said meansincluding a substantially horizontal panel, said panel having a frontand a rear edge, said front edge of said panel being closer to saidfront wall than said rear edge, means for selectively adjusting theelevation of said front edge of said panel, said rear edge of said panelbeing provided with a downwardly extending flange, said rear edgeportion of said panel adapted to extend through a Wall of a buildingwith said flange on said rear edge of said panel being juxtaposed to anoutermost surface of the wall of the building.

3. An article of manufacture comprising an enclosure having a top wall,side walls connected to said top wall along side edges thereof, apivotably supported front Wall extending between said side walls, saidenclosure lacking a bottom wall so that the interior thereof may be incommunication with the surrounding atmosphere, means within saidenclosure for supporting an air conditioner therein, said meansincluding a four-sided supporting structure, a bottom panel on saidsupporting structure having a front edge higher than a rear edgethereof, and a louver releasably mounted in the aperture defined by saidsupporting structure along a rear edge of said supporting structure.

4. An article in accordance with claim 3 including a panel for blockingoff a portion of the area in said supporting structure so that saidsupporting structure may accommodate an air conditioner havingtransverse dimensions which are smaller than the transverse dimensionsof said supporting structure.

5. An article of manufacture comprising an enclosure having a top wall,side walls and a front Wall, a supporting structure within saidenclosure for supporting an air conditioner, said supporting structureincluding a bottom panel on which the air conditioner is adapted to besupported,

a louver in a rear portion of said supporting structure, means providingfor transmission of condensate from the air conditioner through saidrear portion of said structure, said last mentioned means including aselectively adjustable member for raising a front edge of said bottompanel so that said front edge is higher than a rear edge thereof.

6. An article in accordance with claim 5 including means within saidenclosure for supporting a heater with a panel of said supportingstructure disposed in a position so that it will be between the airconditioner and the heater.

7. Apparatus comprising a wall of a building, an enclosure juxtaposed toan inner surface of said wall, said enclosure lacking a bottom wall sothat the interior thereof may be in communication with the surroundingatmosphere, a supporting structure within said enclosure for supportingan air conditioner, said supporting structure including top, bottom, andside panels, each panel having a flange on the rear edge thereofoverlapping an outer surface of the wall of the building, and a louverwithin said supporting structure adjacent the flanges on the panels.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said enclosure isprovided with a front wall, said bottom panel having a front edge spacedfrom said first wall, said front edge being disposed in an elevationhigher than the elevation of the rear edge of said bottom panel, andsaid front edge of said bottom panel being closer to said front wall ofsaid enclosure than said rear edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,262,104 Lambrecht Nov. 11, 1941 2,813,406 Smith Nov. 19, 19572,934,324 Partington Apr. 26, 1960 2,935,366 Cahn May 3, 1960 2,978,973Sweedyk Apr. 11, 1961

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING AN ENCLOSURE HAVING A TOP WALL,SIDE WALLS CONNECTED TO SAID TOP WALL ALONG SIDE EDGES THEREOF, APIVOTABLY SUPPORTED FRONT WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, SAIDENCLOSURE LACKING A BOTTOM WALL SO THAT THE INTERIOR THEREOF MAY BE INCOMMUNICATION WITH THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERE, MEANS WITHIN SAIDENCLOSURE FOR SUPPORTING AN AIR CONDITIONER THEREIN, SAID MEANSINCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PANEL, SAID PANEL HAVING A FRONTEDGE AND A REAR EDGE, THE FRONT EDGE OF SAID PANEL BEING CLOSER TO SAIDFRONT WALL THAN SAID REAR EDGE, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ADJUSTING THEELEVATION OF SAID FRONT EDGE OF SAID PANEL.